| Keep It Together | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Guster |
| Cover: | Keepittogether.jpg |
| Released: | June 24, 2003 |
| Recorded: | 2001–2003 |
| Genre: | Alternative rock |
| Length: | 48:44 |
| Label: | Palm, Reprise |
| Producer: | Roger Moutenot and Ron Aniello |
| Prev Title: | WBR Sessions |
| Prev Year: | 2003 |
| Next Title: | Ganging Up on the Sun |
| Next Year: | 2006 |
Keep It Together is the fourth studio album by the band Guster, released in June 2003. The album was recorded from 2001 to 2003 in Bearsville, New York, New York City, Burbank, California, and Shokan, New York. This is the first album by Guster with Brian Rosenworcel on kit drums instead of hand percussion. Keep It Together went through several working titles, including Bitch Magic, Olympia Dukakis and Come Downstairs & Say Hello.[1]
According to the album's liner notes, Joe Pisapia contributed guest vocals on "Jesus on the Radio" and Ben Kweller did the same on "I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today". Pisapia officially joined the band in 2003.[2]
The track "Red Oyster Cult" refers to the name of the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult.
A UK re-release included two bonus tracks, "Say That to My Face" and "Starless Heaven".
The record sold 267,000 copies by late 2005, according to Nielsen Soundscan.[3]
All music composed by Guster, except where noted.thumb|Guster performing an "unplugged" version of "Jesus on the Radio" at a concert at Ohio State University in 2006
When the band plays "Jesus on the Radio" live, they often play it "unplugged", without any instruments or microphones plugged in.[4]
"Keep It Together" can be heard at the end of the season 1 The O.C. episode, "The Rescue".
"I Hope Tomorrow Is Like Today" can be heard in the film Wedding Crashers and in the Malcolm in the Middle episode "Lois' Sister".
Guster
Guest musicians
"Backyard" guest musiciansEvery guest musician on Keep It Together was forced to record a take on the song "Backyard". The rule was they could only record one take, and they must have no knowledge of the song before they began recording.[5]
Album - Billboard (United States)
Singles - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Careful" | Adult Top 40 | 30 |
| "Amsterdam" | Adult Top 40 | 20 |
| The Meowstro Sings — Guster's Keep It Together | |
| Type: | Remix |
| Artist: | Guster |
| Cover: | Meowstro Sings.jpg |
| Released: | 2003 |
| Recorded: | 2001–2003 |
| Genre: | Comedy rock |
| Length: | 44:06 |
| Label: | Palm/Reprise |
| Producer: | Roger Moutenot and Ron Aniello |
| Prev Title: | Lost and Gone Forever |
| Prev Year: | 1999 |
| Next Title: | WBR Sessions |
| Next Year: | 2003 |
The Meowstro Sings — Guster's Keep It Together features all but one of the tracks from Keep It Together, with the vocals replaced by simulated cat meows. According to the band, the meows were sung by Guster's monitor engineer at the time, Matt Peskie.[6] The tracks were then released to Kazaa, in an effort to deter downloading of legitimate tracks. The "meow mixes" gained a following from some fans, and were made available to Keep It Together purchasers through a link hidden on that album.
The Meowstro is featured in "Melanie", which appeared on the 2004 Guster album Live 6/17/04 Myrtle Beach, SC. The studio version of "Melanie" appears on Goldfly also includes some meowing, but not by the Meowstro. Guster released the single "Carol of the Meows" for the 2004 holiday season, a recording of the traditional "Carol of the Bells" given the same treatment.
Track listing